Tourists visiting the Twelve Apostles will soon be hit with an entry fee to access the once-free attraction, sparking fury among Aussies.
Visitors will have to fork out the fee from April 2027 when they pass through the newly built Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre, the new gateway to the iconic Great Ocean Road landmark.
‘This is a joke,’ one said.
‘Soon you will be charged for lying on the grass and staring at the clouds in your own backyard,’ another said.
Entry will remain free until April 2027. However, visitors will be required to make a booking from October 16, when the new centre opens.
‘Booking is the only way that you can come through the visitor centre,’ Victorian Minister for Rural and Regional Development Michaela Settle said.
The Twelve Apostles will join other major Australian attractions, including Cradle Mountain and Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade, in charging visitors an entry fee.
Although the price has not been announced, Settle said it would be ‘in alignment with all of the great natural visitation spots around Australia’.
Tourists visiting the Twelve Apostles will soon be hit with an entry fee to access the once free attraction, sparking fury among Aussies
Visitors will have to fork out the fee from April 2027 when they pass through the newly built Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre
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Acting federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Catherine King said the redevelopment was already benefiting the local economy and would attract more visitors to the region.
‘The natural wonder of the Twelve Apostles is a drawcard for millions of people and this new visitor centre will support sustainable tourism along Victoria’s southwest coastline,’ she said.
‘The redevelopment is already playing an important part in the local economy and will encourage even more visitors to spend time in the region, boosting local jobs and businesses.’
Local residents and Traditional Owners will be exempt from the fee, although authorities are still finalising who will qualify as a local.
The $126 million centre includes 950 car spaces, a cafe, a gallery and rooftop lookout.
However, Great Ocean Road Authority chair Libby Mears said there was a catch.
‘Defining a local is a really good question, and what that looks like still being fine-tuned,’ she said.
‘Lots of people think they’re locals, even when they’re in Torquay.’
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson also criticised the levy.
‘We’ve had concerns about this for some time, but this is what happens when you have a Labor government mismanage the finances for a decade in this state,’ she said.
